Straight-bar knitting machines

ABSTRACT

Provision of an independently operable selvedge-forming control and an independently operable pattern-forming control for knit articles reduces the number and complexity of straight-bar knitting machine programs for controlling needle selection and permits one pattern-forming program to be used with a number of selvedge-forming programs provided for different sizes and shapes of articles. A mechanical canceling device operates alternately with the selvedge-controlling device to positively prevent the pattern-forming operation to inadvertently overlap the selvedge zone of the knit article. A counting device may control the pattern-forming operation so that a particular pattern may be located or repeated automatically.

. Hittite ttes [1 1 [1 3,2,624 Fess et al. Oct. 22, 1974 [54] STRAIGHT-BAR KNITTING MACHINES 2,074,089 3/1937 Loimann 66/98 Q 1 limitless; Kurt Ben/zinger; ijliiiiflf 3/1323 fiiiiiayaiiji... 11:11:31: 22533? Koblltl, all of lngolsladt, Germany 3,439,513 4/1969 Hill et al. 66/89 x Assignee: Schubert & Salzer Maschinenfabrik 3,566,623 3/l97l BlOOCl Ct ill. 66/l54 Akt' ll h ft,l l t dt, gli i Sc a S a Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert W. Beach; Ms. R. [22] Filed: June 21, 1973 M, Van Winkle 211 App], No.2 372,107 I [57] ABSTRACT Related Apphcauo Data Provision of an inde endentl o erable selved e- P Y P g l Continuation of 58 y 10, 1971, forming control and an independently operable patabandoned tern-forming control for knit articles reduces the number and complexity of straight-bar knitting machine Foreign Application Priority programs for controlling needle selection and permits May 29, 1970 Germany 2026238 one pattern-forming program to be used with a number of selvedge-forming programs provided for differ- [52] US. Cl 66/82 R, 66/154 A, 66/89 ent sizes and shapes of articles. A mechanical cancel- [51] Int. Cl D04b 11/00 ing device operates alternately with the selvedge- [58] Field of Search 66/89, 98, 101, 154 A, controlling device to positively prevent the pattern- 66/82 forming operation to inadvertently overlap the selvedge zone of the knit article. A counting device may [56] References Cited control the pattern-forming operation so that a partic- UNITED S S P E ular pattern may be located or repeated automatically. 2,038,735 4/1936 Heinitz 66/98 10 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures STRAIGHT-BAR KNITTING MACHINES This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 141,580, filed May 10, 1971 now abandonded.

The present invention relates to straight-bar knitting machines with a device for selecting any individual needle over the whole breadth of each knitting division of the machine for participation or non-participation in selvedge and lace fashioning and pressing operations.

sired shaping. This makes it necessary for a separate program to be produced for each size and shape when the goods are of different sizes but nevertheless have the same pattern. This makes for substantial complications and leads to a considerable consumption of time.

One aim of the invention is to separate patterning from shaping so that the pattern program can be used for different sizes and shapes.

In accordance with a previous proposal (see British specification No. 933,072) a pressing pattern device was to be so controlled by the selvedge controlling device by means of the selvedge control for fashioning spindles that the pressing pattern was cancelled at the selvedge where fashioning was to be carried out. In this case the selvedge control or fashioning spindles were to place bluffing plates in front of the patterning drum so that no tucks were formed in the selvedge region. The pressing or non-pressing of the needle and the fashioning is, however, always carried out in two successive operations so that the separation of patterning and shaping is comparatively simple and free of problems. In the case of this known device the selvedge and lace fashioning and the patterning device are two devices which are completely independent of each other. In the case of the above-mentioned selecting devices, however, to which the present invention relates, the needles are selected by one and the same selecting device individually both for press patterning and fashioning lace patterning and also for selvedge or shaping.

One aim of the present invention is to provide a device for the selection of any individual needle for participation or non-participation in selvedge and lace fashioning and pressing operations, in which the programming of the patterns is to be carried out independently of the size and shape of the article.

The present invention consists in a straight-bar knitting machine with a device for selecting any individual needle over the whole breadth of each knitting division of the machine for participation or non-participation in selvedge of lace fashioning and pressing operations, comprising a pattern control device and a selvedge control device, which operate independently of one another on the selecting device.

Conveniently the selections determined by the pattern control device and the selvedge control device are each made separately and carried out in separate working operations. This avoids the use of complicated interrogation and co-ordination means. The selvedge control device is advantageously connected to the pattern control devices in such a manner as being predominant so that in the case of fashioning operations firstly the selvedge control device is brought into operation and it is only after the carrying out of the working operations for the production of the selvedge shaping that the pattern control device comes into action. Owing to this arrangement a broader pattern cancellation is avoided at the selvedge and it is not necessary to use a complicated function storing means or memory in order to stop selvedge fashioning until the pattern or lace fashioning is finished.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention a stop device is provided for the program carrying element of the pattern control device, this stop device being adapted to be actuated by the selvedge control device. In this manner complicated and expensive change speed gearings are avoided for this program carrying element.

In order to obtain selvedges with a satisfactory appearance in the case of patterns extending over the whole breadth of the article a cancelling device can be provided which is acted upon by the selvedge control means and acts upon the selecting device or means. This cancelling deivce is preferably so coupled with the selvedge control devive that the selecting device is selectively acted upon alternatively either by the cancelling device or the selvedge control device.

In order to be able to co-ordinate the beginning of patterning with the contour or shaping of a certain size there is the provision in accordance with a further feature of the invention of providing an adjustable counting device which is independent from the selvedge control device and the pattern control device.

In accordance with a convenient form of the invention a selvedge selector, which can be controlled from the program carrying element, is provided which actuates selector elements connected with the selecting device. Preferably the selvedge selector is capable of being moved by means of a drive screw along the selector elements, the drive screw being preferably arranged to be driven via the thread guiding drive screw.

In order to set the drive screw for the selvedge selector independently from the selvedge and thus for example to be able to change the size of the selvedge region, this drive screw is capable of being adjusted independently from the fashioning or yarn carrying control screw in accordance with a further feature of the invention.

Further details of the invention are now described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In these drawings all machine parts not necessary for understanding the invention are omitted in order to render the drawings more readily intelligible.

FIG. 1 shows the straight-bar knitting machine with the selvedge control device, the pattern control device and a part of the selecting device in accordance with the invention in'a diagrammatic perspective view.

FIG. 2 is a view of the selecting device in accordance with FIG. 1 as a whole from the side and a partial section.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention from the side and in partial section.

FIG. 4 shows a drive device for the alternate drive of the cancelling device and the selvedge selector in perspective.

FIGS. 5 to 8 show the bars with the loop forming 7 parts and the sinkers of the selecting device in accordance with FIG. 3 in different working positions in sections.

FIG. 9 shows a coupling for a selvedge selector driven by means of a drive spindle, in perspective view.

FIG. is a functional diagram of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a modified functional diagram in conjunction with an article to be produced.

The selection as desired of individual needles over the whole breath of a knitting division of the knitting machine, as is represented in FIG. 10 by the needle bar NB, so as to participate or not to partipicate in the selvedge or lace fashioning and pressing operations is brought about in a conventional manner by means of a selecting device W. The needles N are selected not only for patterning but also for the production of the shaping of the selvedges. Therefore, in the case of the known selecting devices of this type it has been necessary to control both the pattern and also the selvedge shaping by one and the same control device. This, however, brings the disadvantage that with the same shape and size of the article, but with different patterns, or with the same pattern but with different sizes and shapes, a new program must be produced in each case.

The production of such a program is, however, very complicated and expensive. Therefore in accordance with the present invention a selvedge control device K is provided for selecting the needles N for the production of the selvedge shaping and a pattern control device M is provided for the selection of the needles N for the production of the pattern. Both the selvedge control device K and also the pattern control device M act independently from each other on the selecting device W An embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The selvedge control device K has a program carrying element PK, by which the shaping of the article is controlled. For this purpose the selvedge control device K has for each program track of the program carrying element PK a horizontally moving sensing pin 2 and 2', respectively. Each sensing pin 2 and 2' is associated with a lifting element 5 and 5', respectively. These elements 5 and 5 are guided vertically between guide rails 50 arranged above the sensing pins 2 and 2. The stationary guide rails 50 furthermore form a pivot point about which the lifting elements 5 and 5', respectively, are swung by the sensing pins 2 and 2'. In accordance with the position ofa sensing pin 2 or 2, respectively, the lower end of the corresponding lifting element 5 or 5 co-operates with the rib part 6' or with the lower working surface of a vertically moving raising beam 6.

On each lifting element 5 and 5' a horizontally moving drawing hook I and 1, respectively, rests, which is held by a tension spring 39 in its right-hand end position. Drawing wires 4 and 4, respectively, extend through the tension spring 39 and are connected with the drawing hooks 1 and 1, respectively. One drawing wire is provided for each function necessary for the production of the selvedge shaping.

At its free end each drawing hook I and 1 has a recess in which a draw bar 3 can fit.

The program carrying element PK controls more especially the right-hand and the left-hand fashioning or yarn carrier control screw 11. For this purpose there is mounted on the extended yarn carrier control screw 11 a ratchet wheel 12 which co-operates with an advancing pawl 13. Adjacent to the ratchet wheel 12 there is a bluffing disc 14 which can be operated by the program carrying element PK and which moves the pawl in and out of its operating position and may release it for stepping movements in different size.

In order to render the drawing more intelligible, only one ratchet wheel 12, one advancing pawl 13 and one bluffing plate 14 are shown for advance in one direction, though it should be understood that the same parts are duplicated for advance in the opposite directlon.

With the yarn carrier control screw 11 a further drive screw is connected via a sprocket chain drive 15 and 16 and an intermediate shaft 17.

The drive screw 110 drives the frame 180, which guides the selvedge selector 7. For this purpose a rail 720 extends so as to be parallel to the drive screw 110 through the frame 180, which rail 720 actuates the selvedge selector 7 when it rotates about its axis, though it can carry out axial movements relative to the selector 7. One end of this rail 720 is rigidly connected with a cam follower lever 72, which is driven by a cam 72] mounted on a main cam shaft I-IW.

In order to enable the contour selector 7 to be brought in and out of operation the cam follower roller 722 of the cam follower lever 72 can be displaced on its axle. For this purpose an operating fork 723, which can be operated in a known manner by an electromagnet 724 fits into a guide groove in the cam roller follower 722.

The pattern control device M possesses, just as in the case with the selvedge control device K, a program carrying element PM, which can be sensed by sensing pins 20 and 20', respectively. The sensing pins 20 and 20 are guided in a guide plate 500, which also prevents an excessively large downward movement of the sensing pins 20 and 20. Since the pattern drive 60 is lowered in a conventional manner when it is changed over, it is thus brought out of engagement with the sensing pins 20 and 20 so that the pattern drum 60 can be advanced on by the advancing pawl 600 by means of the ratchet wheel 601.

Both the selvedge control device K and also the pattern control device M operate independently of one another on the selector device W. For this purpose the selector device W has drawing hooks 10 and 10, which on selection by the sensing pins 20 of the pattern control device M pass into the part of action of a draw bar 30 arranged below the drawing hooks 10 and 10' or in the case of selection by the selvedge selector 7 move into the operating part of another draw bar 30 arranged above the drawing hooks 10 and 10. The drawing hooks l0 and 10 are, to save space, in the embodiment shown arranged in four planes but they could naturally be arranged in more or less planes. Accordingly in each case one more draw bar 30 is provided than there are planes for the drawing hooks 10 and 10 so that a draw bar 30 is arranged above each drawing hook 10 and a draw bar 30 is arranged below each drawing hook 10'.

The draw bar 30 are arranged in a common frame3l, which is carried on support levers 32. These support levers 32 are pivotally mounted on axles 33 and 33. A cam follower lever 34 is connected with the axle 33 and which is driven by a cam 35 arranged on the main cam shaft l-IW, brings about a pivoting movement on the axle 33' for driving the frame 31 with the draw bars 30.

As already mentioned the drawing hooks and 10' can be swung upwards or downwards by the selvedge selector 7 or by the sensing pins into the path of a draw bar'30. In this case rods 41 serve to define pivot axes and support the draw hooks 10.

On the end remote from the selvedge selector 7 each drawing hook 10 and 10' is connected with a drawing wire 40 whose other end is connected with a lifting jack 80. In order to economize in space the tie-up hooks 805 of the lifting jacks 80 are arranged in four different planes, though they could be also arranged in more or less planes in accordance with the space available, that is to say the needle spacing or pitch. The lifting jacks 80 are arranged in a bed and are held in it by a cover plate 801. The bed 800 is attached to cam follower levers 802 which are pivotally mounted on an axle 803 and are driven by cams 804 mounted on the main cam shaft HW.

Each lifting jack 80 has between its tie-up hook 805 and its free end 807 a working butt 806 on its upper side for co-operation with a patterning jack 81. The patterning jacks 81 are carried in a bed 810 in which the patterning jacks 81 are returned by two cover plates 811 and 812. The patterning jacks 81 are held by tension springs 813 in their lower end position. On its upper end each patterning jack presents a working surface 814 which in a conventional manner serves for pressing the needles N or catching the fashioning or lace points DN (FIG. 8) in accordance with the position of the main cam shaft HW.

The bed 810 is carried on arms 815, which are journalled on axles 816. The axles 816 are caused to pivot by a cam follower lever 817, which in turn is driven by a cam 818 arranged on the main cam shaft HW.

For returning the lifting jacks 80 drawn by the draw bars 30 to the left (FIG. 2) into their basic position as shown, each lifting jack 80 has on its underside a rest butt 808 with which a retracting rail 82 co-operates which extends over the whole width of the bed 800. This returning rail 82 connects two cam follower levers 820 which follow cams 821 arranged on the main cam shaft HW. When the bed 880 is in its lower position, so that the patterning jacks 81 no longer engage the lifting jacks 80, the latter can therefore be returned into their basic position.

It has been indicated above that the cams 721, 35, 804, 818 and 821 are arranged on the main cam shaft. Naturally these cams can, however, be arranged on different shafts which are driven at the same speed of rotation as the main cam shaft HW.

The manner of operation of the device described is as follows:

If a plain article, that is to say without a pattern is to be produced, the patterning device M is put out of operation. The selector device W is then only acted upon by the selvedge control device K.

The general machine commands for starting the article (production of a turned welt or transfer of a rib welt) and the end of the article (resetting of the various devices of the straight-bar knitting machine) and the fashioning of the article are thus controlled from the program carrying element PK. The sensing pin 2, 2 are driven by means of a conventional drive, which is therefore not shown, from the main cam drive HW and sense the program carrying element PK once per revolution of the main cam shaft HW. If a sensing pin 2 engages a hole of the program carrying element PK, the lifting element 5 associated with it and mounted in a guide rail 50 is swung to the left (FlG. 1). At this point in time the raising beam 6, which is driven via means which are not shown by the main cam shaft HW, is in its lower end position. On its upward movement the rib 6 of the raising beam 6 passes under the lifting element 5'. The latter is lifted and brings the drawing hook 1' into the path of the draw bar 3, which carries out one working stroke per revolution of the main cam shaft HW owing to the action of means which are not shown. The drawing book 1' is thus drawn to the left (FIG. 1) against the action of the tension spring 39. Thus the corresponding machine function is brought about via the drawing wire 4'. After release by the draw bar 3 the drawing hook 1' is drawn by the draw spring 39 back into its basic position.

For example the bluffing disc 14 is so pivoted against the action of the draw spring 140 that the bluffing disc 14 releases the advancing pawl 13. This carries out one advancing movement per revolution of the main cam shaft HW and can now, since it is released by thebluffing disc 14, advance the yarn carrier control screw 11 with the help of of the ratchet wheel 12. As a result the yarn carrier control screw nut 18 is adjusted for limiting the path of the yarn carriers in a conventional manner.

Simultaneously the loop transferring movement of the fashioning'or lace points DN is controlled. The points DN are arranged in a continuous or divided up point bar extending over the whole breadth of the knitting division of the machine. This point bar returns after each transfer operation into its basic position.

If a sensing pin 2 does not engage a hole of the program carrying element PK, the lifting element 5 is not in the path of the rib 6 of the raising beam 6. In the case of this upward movement therefore the draw book 1 is not sufficiently raised and is not engaged by the draw bar 3 when the latter carries out its working stroke.

The selection of the needles N co-operating in selvedge fashioning is carried out via the selvedge selector 7 as follows:

The selvedge selector 7, of which there is one for each yarn carrier control screw 11, follows the shape of the article, since it is mounted on the drive screw 1 10 which is driven by the yarn carrier control screl 11 via the sprocket drive 15, the intermediate shaft 17 and the sprocket wheel 16.

By the drawing of the drawing hook 1' by the draw bar 3 for the starting of selvedge shaping and the following adjustment of the yarn carrier control screw 11 and of the selvedge selector 7, an electric switch 390 is actuated. This passes current to the electromagnet 724, which with the help of the operating fork 723 brings the cam roller follower 722 on the cam 721. Ac-

cordingly the selvedge selector 7 is moved once up and down per revolution of the main cam shaft HW, and the selvedge selector 7 lifts the drawing hooks l0 and 10' in its path to such an extent that they are drawn by the draw bar 30 located above these drawing hooks l0 and 10 to the left. In consequence the corresponding lifting jacks are also drawn via the drawing wires .40 also to the left so that the patterning jacks 81 can no longer rest on the working butts 806 of the lifting jacks 80 on the upward movement of the bed 800. Instead of this the patterning jacks 81 are positioned above the ends 807 of the lifting jacks 80. Accordingly the patterning jacks 81 are no longer sufficiently well raised see also FIG. 6) and can no longer catch the corresponding fashioning or lace points DN (FIG. 8). The fashioning or lace points DN therefore take over the loops from the needles N corresponding to these patterning jacks 81 and transfer them in accordance with the shogging movement the extent of which is determined by the program carrying element PK, to the desired needles N.

As appears from the above description, each needle N is associated with a drawing hook l and 10', a drawing wire 40, a lifting jack 80, a pattern jack 8] and a fashioning or lace point DN.

In the production of a patterned article the pattern is controlled by the program carrying element PM via the pattern control device M. If a sensing pin drops into a hole in the program carrying element PM, the drawing hook l0associated with the sensing pin 20 also drops downwards. During the following working stroke of the draw bar 30 arranged underneath the drawing hook 10' the working butt 806 of the lifting jack 80 associated with this drawing hook 10 is drawn away underneath the patterning jack 81 (see also FIG. 6). If this section occurs during the laying of the yarn and loop forming, the hooks of the corresponding needles N cannot be pressed and thus cannot be closed; if, however, this selection occurs when the main cam shaft HW has been shogged, a fashioning or lace point DN can lie against this needle N and take off the loop on it for transfer to another needle N.

There has been a previous proposal to program tape saving courses on program carrying elements in order to stop them for a certain number of courses. Thus, at the beginning of an article the selvedge control device K and the patterning control device M are switched on simultaneously. By programming tape saving courses each of these devices, independently of the other control device, can be stopped for the time in which it is not required.

In order to make possible a control of the selvedge shaping in that part of an article in which the pattern is produced, one tape saving course for one revolution of the main cam shaft I-IW is conveniently programmed in each section of the program carrying element PM which controls the loop formation. In this manner each time when the main cam shaft I-IW is shogged, it is possible to carry out control of the selvedge shaping by the selvedge control device K. Thus, in the case of fashioning or lace operations it is always first the selvedge control device K which is in action and then the pattern control device M is set in action after the carrying out of the operations connected with the selvedge shaping.

However, if in a course no selvedge fashioning is carried out, one rotation of the main cam shaft I-IW nevertheless is lost by programming on principle one tape saving course. Therefore, in accordance with the invention the pattern control device M is acted upon by the selvedge control device K. In this manner the programming of the above-mentioned tape saving courses is not necessary for any fashioning operations which may become necessary for the production of the selvedge shaping. The selvedge control device K acts upon the pattern control device M in such a manner that the latter is put out of action when the operations concerned with the production of the selvedge shaping are se lected by the selvedge control device K. This can be carried out in a number of different ways. For example it is possible to provide for an electric switch, not shown, which can be operated or actuated by one of the drawing hooks 1 or 1 so as to bring about half an advancing step of the pattern drum with the program carrying element PM of the pattern control device M. As a result none of the sensing pins 20 and 20 is opposite a hole in the program carrying element PM, so that no selection of the needles N can occur on the basis of the operation of the pins 20 and 20'.

It is also possible to provide for the production of a reverse turning pulse for one half of an advancing step by the above-mentioned switch after a normal advancing movement of the pattern drum 60 but yet before the sensing by the sensing pins 20 and 20', so that the pattern drum 60 with the program carrying element PM is in the same position as in the previously mentioned example.

The complexity of means required for these half advancing steps and the danger of erroneous switching operations are, however, too great. Therefore, in accordance with the invention, a stop device S, actuated by the selvedge control device K is provided for the program carrying element PM of the pattern control device M. This stop device S consists of a bluffing plate 603 which can be swung about the shaft 602 of the pattern drum 60 and matches the curvature of the pattern drum 60. This bluffing plate 603 is held by two arms 604 fixed to the shaft 602. At least one of these arms is connected to a plunger 605 reciprocable by an electromagnet 606. On the shaft 602 there is also a bluffmg disc 607 for the advancing pawl 600. This bluffing disc 607 is connected via a draw part 608 with one of the arms 604.

The-stop device S for the program carrying element PM functions in the following manner:

On actuation of the electric switch 390, by which the electromagnet 724 is excited for putting the selvedge selector 7 into action, simultaneously the electromagnet 606 is excited. Accordingly the bluffing plate 603 is swung between the program carrying element PM and the sensing pins 20 and 20' while the pattern drum 60 is in its lower position. Simultaneously the bluffing disc 607, which is connected via the arm 604 and the draw part 608 with the bluffmg plate 603, moves the pawl 600 in such a position that the latter can no longer engage the ratchet wheel 6011. In this manner further movement of the program carrying element PM and a sensing of the element by the sensing pins 20 and 20 is prevented in a reliable manner.

It is admittedly possible to store the functions of the program carrying element PK of the selvedge control device K and firstly to carry out the functions selected by the pattern control device M. For this purpose it would, however, be necessary to couple the switch 390 with involved function storage means so that the electromagnets 724 and 606 would only be excited after the functions controlled by the pattern control device M for this course have been carried out. Since in particular in the case of complicated petinet or lace patterns it is necessary to carry out a great number of working operations, such function storage means are, however, extremely complicated. It is therefore more advantageous to connect the selvedge control device K to the pattern control device M (FIG. 10) so that the selvedge control device predominates the knitting operation. In this manner in the case of fashioning or lace operations the selvedge control device K the working operations controlled by this device K for the production of the selvedge shaping, the pattern control device M comes into action..This control connection between the selvedge control device K and the pattern control device M is brought into existence in the embodiment of the invention shown by a direct connection of the electric switch 390 and with the electromagnet 724 and also the electromagnet 606.

In the case of the embodiments of the invention described the selection determined by the pattern control device M and by the selvedge control device K are always carried out separately and are performed in separate working operations also. Accordingly complicated interrogation and co-ordinating devices are not required, which would simultaneously carry out an interrogating operation as regards the functions (direction of fashioning and size of fashioning steps) a comparison operation and, also simultaneously, similar fashioning operations for the selvedge shaping and the pattern, and different fashioning operations one after the other.

With the above-described device with which only selections can be made, it is possible to combine small patterns of any desired type, which do not extend as far as the selvedge region of an article, with different sizes and shapes. In order, however, to achieve a satisfacotry selvedge formation in the case of patterns which extend over the whole breadth of the article, a cancelling device L is provided (FIG. 10) in accordance with the invention which is acted upon by the selvedge control device K and acts upon the selection device W.

This cancelling device L consists in accordance with FIG. 1 of a cancelling comb 9, which is arranged with the selvedge selector 7 in a common frame 180. Both the contour selector 7 and also the cancelling comb 9 can be caused to act upon the drawing hooks l and 10'. For this purpose between each drawing hook 10 and 10' and the drive screw 110 a three-armed selector element 71 which can swivel about an axle 73 is provided. One arm 71a of each selector element 71 engages the free end of the drawing hooks 10 and 10' while a further arm 71b extends from below to engage the selvedge selector 7 when this is in its reach and the third arm 71c extends from below to engage the cancelling comb 9 when the latter is in its reach. The arms engaging the drawing hooks 10 and 10', of successive selector elements 71 are staggered, just as is the case with the drawing hooks 10 and 10' in one or several (for example four) planes. A further rail 93 extends so as to be parallel to the rail 720 and to the drive screw 110, through the frame 180. This rail 93 can carry out axial movements in relation to the cancelling comb 9 but when it rotates it actuates the comb. A cam follower lever 91 is connected in a fixed manner with one end of this rail 93 and is driven by a cancelling cam 92 mounted on the main cam shaft HW.

The manner of operation of the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is now described with reference to an article with a combined petinet or lace and press pattern, which extends over the entire breadth of the article to the selvedge region. As already mentioned at the beginning of the patterning the pattern control device M, which has been put out of operation by programmed tape saving courses, is brought into operation. Until this point in time the production of the article is controlled exclusively from the selvedge control device K. The selection of the needles N, which are to produce press tucks, is carried out as already mentioned during the loop formation. The sensing pins 20' operate via the corresponding drawing hooks 10' to draw the associated lifting jacks to the left (FIG. 2) so that the pattern jacks 81 remain in their lower position. In order to achieve a satisfactory selvedge of the article no press tuck can be formed at the selvedge. The cancelling cam 92, which, with the help of the yarn carrier control screw 11 and the drive screw 110, follows the selvedge shaping, has an upward and downward movement imparted to it on each rotation of the main cam shaft'I-IW. The cancelling comb 9 co-operates with the help of the intermediately placed selector elements 71 so that the drawing hooks 10' selected by the pattern control device M do not drop into the region of the working stroke of the draw bar 30 arranged underneath them; and before the start of the working stroke, the draw bars 30 raise drawing hooks 10' which have already dropped into the neutral position shown. The drawing hooks10 and 10' located in the reach of the cancelling comb 9 and the lifting jacks 80 corresponding to them therefore remain in their basic position shown in FIG. 2.

If the selvedge control device K is put out of operation by the programming of tape saving courses, the selections of the needles N for the lace pattern fashioning operations occur immediately, the selection in the reach of the cancelling cam being cancelled again in the manner described. If, however, fashioning for selvedge shaping is provided for, the program carrying element PM of the pattern control device M is stopped in the manner described above by the electromagnet 606. Simultaneously the electromagnet 724 is excited so that the'selvedge selector 7 is put into operation. Since the working stroke of the selvedge selector 7 is greater than the working stroke of the cancelling comb 9, the selecting elements 71 are swivelled so far that the drawing hooks l0 and 10' pass into the paths of the draw bars 30 arranged above the drawing hooks l0 and 10. The needles N are therefore selected over a breadth, corresponding to the breadth of the selvedge selector 7 for selvedge fashioning.

The subject matter of the invention can be constructed differently. Thus the above-mentioned selector elements 71 are only necessary when the cancelling comb 9 is provided in addition to the selvedge selector 7. Alternatively the selvedge selector 7 can act from below directly on the drawing hooks l0 and 10' without the interposition of these selector elements 71.

The described and shown program carrying elements PK and PM are punched tapes. Naturally, instead of them or instead of one of them it isalso possible to make use of drums carrying pins, pin strip belts, etc.

In the case of the construction in accordance with the invention as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the cancelling device L is always in the operative condition. Since it is necessary to cancel a pattern over a breadth which is greater than the breadth over which needles N must be selected for the selvedge fashioning, the cancelling device L remains effective over the breadth of a few needles even when the selvedge selector is in the operative condition. Conveniently the cancelling comb 9 is made wider than the selvedge selector 7 to an extent which corresponds to the maximum fashioning step plus one needle pitch and projects toward the middle of the needle bed or knitting division further than selvedge selector 7. If the maximum fashioning stepamounts to two needle pitches for example, the breadth of the cancelling comb, in a direction towards the middle of the needle bed is three needle pitches greater than the selvedge selector 7.

As already mentioned a broader pattern cancellation is necessary in fashioning operations when the selvedge control device K is not first in action and after carrying out the working operations for the production of the selvedge shaping the pattern control device M comes into action. In this case the cancelling comb 9 must be wider in a direction towards the middle of the needle bed or knitting division than the selvedge selector 7 to the extent that corresponds to the sum, increased by one needle pitch, of the maximum narrowing step for the selvedge shaping fashioning and the maximum lace pattern fashioning step in a direction towards the selvedge. It is only in this manner that it is possible to ensure that a satisfactory selvedge is produced even when selvedge shaping fashioning occurs after patterning fashioning. I

In the case of the preferred reversed working sequence, however, the cancelling comb 9 is already displaced by the selvedge fashioning so that the cancelling comb 9, as previously indicated, only needs to be made of such a width greater than the selvedge selector as corresponds to the maximum narrowing fashioning step plus one needle pitch. FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention in which the cancelling device L is so coupled with the selvedge control device K that alternately either the cancelling device L or the selvedge control device K operates on the selecting device W.

Unlike the construction of the invention in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2, the selvedge control device K of the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 3 acts on the selecting device W between the draw bore 300 and the lifting jacks 83 (FIGS. 5 to 8). The selvedge control device K again has a drive screw 110, with whose help the selvedge selector 70 can be moved along the selector elements 74 and 74', respectively. The drive screw 110 is driven, independently from the yarn carrier control screw 11 (unlike the arrangement shown in FIG. I), by means of an advancing pawl 111 driven from the main cam shaft HW, and by a ratchet wheel 112. For deactuating the advancing pawl 111 use is made in a conventional fashion of a'bluffing disc 113 which is controlled by the selvedge control device K (FIG. 1) via a drawing wire 4.

The selvedge selector 70 is arranged on a frame 181 which is driven by driving forks 182 which are constructed as nuts. The driving forks fit round a stationary axle 183 on which the frame 181 is pivotally mounted. The bottom end of the frame 181 carries a rail 184 which is engaged by the forks 185 in order to impart a swinging movement to the frame 181. The forks are caused to perform a swinging movement by the main cam shaft I-IW.

A cancelling comb 90 is connected with the frame 181 below the axle 183. The comb is urged in an up ward direction by a tension spring 900, which is mounted between a spring pin 901 mounted on the extension to the rear of the cancelling comb and a spring pin 902 mounted on the lower end of the frame 181.

The selvedge selector and the cancelling comb of this embodiment of the invention also extend correspondingly toward the outside of the needle bed or knitting division to the corresponding selector element 74 and 74', respectively, but the cancelling comb 90 is made broader so that it extends toward the middle of the needle bed or knitting division farther than the selvedge selector 70 by such an amount as corresponds to at least the maximum fashioning step in one fashioning direction plug one needle pitch.

The selvedge selector 70 engages from above behind the drawing projection 745 of the selector elements 74 and 74', respectively, while the cancelling comb 90 extends from below behind the drawing projection 746 of the selector elements 74 and 74', respectively. The selector elements 74 and 74' are mounted in a sliding manner in a bar 740 arranged in front of the selvedge selector and the cancelling comb 90, and can, if required, be distributed among one or more planes.

Each selector element is provided with a pivotal rocking lever 741, which lies against a gripping part 742 on a drawing wire 40 of the selecting device W. Thus, each lfting jack 83 is provided with a selector element 74 and 74', respectively. Each pivoting lever 741 can be pivoted about an axis 743 and is connected by means of a drawing wire 744 with a selector element 74 or 74.

The lifting jacks 83 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 7) cannot only be actuated by the selvedge control device K and the cancelling device L but also by the pattern control device M. In the embodiment shown the program carrying element PM again comprises a punched tape, but it is naturally also possible to use a different program carrying element, for example a drum with pins or tracks. The punched tape is advanced by a pattern drum 60 and sensed by sensing pins 20 and 20', respectively. Each sensing pin 20 and 20' is engaged by a drawing hook and 100', respectively, whose end has a drawing wire 40 attached to it.

In accordance with the particular position of the sensing pins 20 and 20' the drawing hooks 100 and 100' are in the paths of the draw bars 300, which again are arranged in a common frame 31. This frame 31 is also borne on support levers 32, which can be swung about the axles 33 and 33, respectively. The respective axle is connected with a cam follower lever 34 which is driven by a cam 35 arranged on the main cam shaft I-IW.

As a stop device S for the program carrying element PM use is made of a disconnecting device which can be of conventional construction and is therefore not shown and which stops the pattern drum 60 in its bottom position and thus stops advancing movement of the drum 60. Furthermore, the frame 31 is stopped with the draw bars 300. For this purpose the cam follower roller 340 of the cam follower lever or cam follower 34 is provided with a shogging fork 341, which is actuated by an electromagnet 342. This electromagmet 342 and the above-mentioned disengaging or disconnecting device for the pattern drum 60 are controlled by an electric switch 390 (FIG. 1) when during selvedge fashioning the pattern device M is to be stopped.

As can be seen from the above the draw bars 300 with theirdrive belong to the pattern control device M and not, as was the case with the embodiment of the invention in accordance with FIGS. 1 and 2, to the selector device W.

Alongside the working butt 806 and the reset butt 808 the patterning jacks 83 (see FIGS. 5 to 8) have a further working butt 830, on the end opposite to the tie-up hook 805, with a rising ramp 831 connecting the jack 83 and the working butt 830.

The embodiment of the invention described with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8 operates in the following manner:

At the beginning of an article the selvedge control device K and the pattern control device M are switched on at the same time; following this the pattern control device M is stopped by the tape saving courses, programmed on the program carrying element PM, until the pattern starts. The start of the article is controlled in the manner already described by the selvedge control device K. In this case the yarn carrier control screw 111 and the drive screw 110 for the production of the selvedge shaping are adjusted independently from each other by the program carrying element PK (FIG. 1). In this manner it is also possible to actuate only the drive screw 110 and thus the selvedge selector 70 in order to arrive at a modification in the breadth of the selvedge zone. This is possible owing to the fact that the part of the selvedge selector 70, which is located outside the selector element 74 or 74, respectively, corresponding to the most outwardly working or selvedge needle N, is of no effect, since these needles are not fed with yarn and thus cannot take part in the loop'forming operatron.

The selvedge selector 70 moves owing to swivelling of the frame 181 in a clockwise direction (FIG. 3) the selector elements 74 and 74, respectively, being locked in its path so that with the help of the drawing wires 744 and the pivoting levers 741 engaging the gripping parts 742 the drawing wires 40 are drawn to the left. Accordingly the corresponding lifting jacks 83 are brought out of the position shown in FIG. 5 into the position shown in FIG. 6. During the following rising movement of the bed 800 only the patterning jacks 81 which are not in the selvedge zone are raised, where they catch the fashioning or lace points DN (see also FIG. 8), while the other patterning jacks 81 remain below the sinker head KO with the sinkers KP. The fashioning or lace points DN therefore come to lie against the needles N corresponding to those patterning jacks 81 and take up the loops on these needles for the following selvedge fashioning operation.

The cancelling comb 90 operates alternately with the selvedge control device K. Thus, if the sevedge control device K is not in operation, for example owing to the tape saving courses programmed on the program carrying element PK or during loop forming, the cancelling comb 90 is in operation. The frame 181 is therefore swung by the forks 185 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 3) so that the cancelling comb 90 draws the selector elements 74 to the right.

Thus, the cancelling comb 90 draws the lifting jacks 83, selected by the drawing hooks 100, out of the position in accordance with FIG. 6 into the position in accordance with FIGS. 7 and 8. The lifting jacks 83 corresponding to the drawing hooks 100 which have been brought by the sensing pins 20 out of the path of the draw bars 300 are brought out of the position as shown in FIG. 5 also into the position in accordance with FIGS. 7 and 8.

Since the cancelling comb 90 must draw the lifting jacks 83 so far that the working butt 830 comes to be located under the patterning jacks 81, while the selvedge selector only has to raise the lifting jacks 83 into an intermediate position, in which the patterning jacks 81 are located between the working butts 806 and 830, a larger working stroke must be provided for the selector elements 74' selected by the cancelling comb 90 than is the case with the selector elements 74 and 74', respectively, selected by the selvedge selector 70. For this purpose between the hooks 708 of the selvedge selector 70 and the drawing projections 745 of the selector elements 74 and 74 some play is present when the frame 181 is located in its neutral vertical position, while the hook 90' of the cancelling comb 90 lies behind the drawing projections 746 without any play. The cancelling comb 90 on being actuated immediately draws the lifting jacks 83 away out of their position as shown in FIG. 5, while the selvedge selector 70 must first take place up the play before it begins to move the lifting jacks 83.

It is also possible to swing the cancelling comb 90 through a greater distance than the selvedge selector 70 by varying the locations of connection of the comb 90 and selector 70 relative to axle 183 along frame 181, so that the two hooks 708 and 90 may be located in the vertical neutral position of the frame 181 without any play behind the drawing projections 745 and 746.

Owing to the fact that the lifting jacks 83 are moved by the cancelling comb 90 as far as the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, it is possible to ensure that during the production of a course of loops any press tuck pattern which may have been provided does not extend as far as the selvedge zone of the article. Since the action of the lifting jacks 83 are located in a position in accordance with FIGS. 7 and 8 is the same as the action of a lifting jack 83 in the position in accordance with FIG. 5. In both cases one of the working butts 806 or 830, respectively, is located below the patterning jack 81, which is thus brought into its upper working position. Lifting jacks 83, which have already been brought into a position as shown in FIG. 6 by the pattern control device M with the helpt of the drawing hooks 100, are moved on out of this position into a position as shown in FIG. 7, the pattern jack 8] sliding on the rising ram 831 upwards onto the working butt 830.

When the main cam shaft I-IW is shogged firstly in the above-described manner the selection of the needles N for the production of the selvedge shaping of the article is carried out. On the following revolution or revolutions of the main cam shaft I-IW, which is or are required for the production of a petinet or lace pattern, the cancelling comb 90 again comes into operation. In the selvedge zone the comb again brings all lifting jacks 83 out of theirposition as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 into a position as shown in FIG. 8 so that in this zone all fashioning or lace points DN can be caught by the patterning jacks 81.

The drive of the forks 185 and thus of the selvedge selector and of the cancelling comb can be carried out in a number of different ways. For example the selvedge selector 70 and the cancelling comb 90 can respectively be provided by a separate cam on the main cam shaft I-IW, whose operating points are angularly offset in relation to each other. The follower roller of the cam follower lever for driving the forks is brought by means of a shogging or displacing fork (not shown) onto a cam for selvedge fashioning, while for cancellation it is placed on another cam.

In FIG. 4 a further drive device for the forks 185 is shown. The forks 185 are in this case-mounted on a shaft 186, which is journaled in the machine frame 187. At one end of the shaft 186 there is a disc 188 with two diametrically placed operating pins 189 and 904.

On the machine frame 187 there is fixed a guide 190 for a guide rail 19, which at its one end has a bearing 191 for two advancing levers 700 and 903. The other end of the guide rail 19 is connected to a three-armed cam follower lever 193 which can pivot about an axle 192. This lever 193 is drawn by a tension spring 194 against a cam 195 arranged on the main cam shaft I-IW.

Each of the advancing levers 700 and 903 has an advancing projection 701 or 905, which can come into engagement with an operating pin 189 or 904, respectively, associated with it. For this purpose the respective ends of the advancing levers 700 and 903, having the advancing projections 701 and 905, which are of the same side on their respective axles 702 or 906, are connected together by a tension spring 703. At the other end each advancing lever 700 and 903 carries a roller 704 and 907, respectively, which lies against a lever 705 and 908, respectively. The lever 705 and 908, respectively, can be swung about a pin 706 and 909, re spectively, and they are connected together at their free ends by a tension spring 707. The levers 705 and 908 are connected with electromagnets 708' and 94, respectively.

When no selvedge fashioning is carried out so that the electric switch 390 (FIG. 1) is not actuated, the electromagnet 708' is not excited and the electromagnetic 94 is excited. Owing tothe non-excited electromagnet 708, the lever 705 is pressed against the roller 704 and the advancing lever 700 so that the latter releases the operating pin 189. The electromagnet 94 excited at the same time, releases by means of the lever 908 the roller 907 of the advancing lever 903 so that the latter through tension spring 703 is disposed with its advancing projection 905 against the operating pin 904. On the next working movement of the cam follower lever 193, the latter draws the advancing lever 903 by means of the guide rail 19. The lever 903 turns the disc 188 by means of its advancing projection 905 and the operating pin 904, and thus also the shaft 186 in a counterclockwise direction. Consequently the forks attached to the shaft 186 turn the frame 181 in a clockwise direction by means of the rail 184 the cancelling comb 90 pulling upon the selector elements 74 and thus bringing the corresponding lifting jacks 83 into the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. After the change-over operation has been completed, the advancing lever 903 is again put out of its working position under the action of the tension spring 707, and the disc I88 and the cancelling comb 90 are moved back into their basic position. For this purpose a tension spring 75 is provided extending between a spring hook 750 provided on the disc 188 and a spring hook 751 attached to the machine frame 187.

For selvedge fashioning, however, the electromagnet 708 is energised so that the advancing projection 701 of the advancing lever 700 lies against the operating pin 189, while the advancing lever 903 is still in the inactive position. On the following working movement of the cam follower lever 193 the disc I88 and the forks 185 are turned in a clockwise direction. The frame 181 therefore carries out a pivoting movement in the counterclockwise direction. The selvedge selector draws the selector elements 74 and 74', respectively, and brings all lifting jacks 83 being in its path into the position shown in FIG. 6. After the switching operation the disc 188 and thus the selvedge selector return into the starting position in the above-described manner.

In order to achieve a different working stroke for the selvedge selector 70 and the cancelling comb despite the diametrically opposite arrangement of the operating pins 189 and 904 on the disc 188, the cancelling comb 90 fits without any play behind the drawing projections 745 of the selector elements 74 and 74, while between the hook 708 of the selvedge selector 70 and the drawing projection 745 of the selector elements 74 and 74, play is present, when the frame 181 is in its neutral vertical position.

If the selvedge selector 70 and also the cancelling comb 90 can fit without any play behind the drawing projections 745 and 746, respectively, of the selector elements 74 and 74', it is also possible to achieve a different vertical travel. For this purpose between the operating pins 189 and 904 are not arranged diametrically opposite in relation to each other on the disc 188 but are spaced apart less than 180 on an arc concentric with shaft 186. Thus, the operating pin 904 is located in such a position that the advancing projection 905 of the advancing lever 903 on being released by the lever 908 lies without any play against the operating pin 904; the operating pin 189 on the other hand is so arranged that on release by the lever 705 the advancing lever 700 lies against the operating pin 189 in such a way that play occurs between the operating pin 189 and the advancing projection 701.

In the case of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 3 the drive screw is arranged to be capable of being displaced independently from the yarn carrier control screw 11 (FIG. 1) owing to the fact that it has its own ratchet drive. Another embodiment of the invention, which makes possible a displacment of the drive screw 110 independently from the yarn carrier control screw 11, is shown by FIG. 9. The intermediate shaft l7journa1led in bearings 172 and 173 consists of two shaft sections and 171, which are coupled together by means of a clutch. The clutch consists of a disc 174 arranged on one end of the shaft section 170 and having a catch dog 175, which is pressed by a spring (not shown) against a catch disc 176 arranged on the adjacent end of the shaft section 171. The catch disc 176 has arcuately arranged holes 177 whose spacing is preferably so calculated that a rotation from one hole 177 to the next hold displaces the drive screw 110 with the selvedge selector 7 (FIG. 1) so far as to correspond to the distance between adjacent selector elemerits 71.

The maximum breadth of the selvedge zone of an article is determined by the full breadth of the selvedge selector 7. If the selvedge zone is to be narrowed, the catch dog 175 is withdrawn out of the hole 177 of the catch disc 176 and the drive screw 110 is turned with the help of the catch disc 176 through the number of holes 177 corresponding to the desired number of needles. Following this the catch dog 175 is again released and snaps into the hole opposite to it.

Naturally it is possible to use also an automatic coupling instead of the one to be controlled by hand. For example at the end of the shaft section 171 there can be an axially displaceable coupling, by means of which the shaft section 171 is driven. This coupling can be brought into engagement with a coupling disc on the shaft section 170 by means of an electromagnet controlled by the program carrying element PK of the selvedge control device K or by a hand-operated electric switch (not shown), so that the shaft section 170 drives the shaft section 171. Adjacent to the coupling there is arranged on the side remote from the first section 170 a ratchet drive which cannot be axially displaced, in relation to which the shaft section 170 can be relatively turned and which is controlled by the main cam shaft l-IW and whose bluffing discs are controlled by the program carrying element PK or by a hand-operated electric switch (not shown). Accordingly a displacement of the coupling can be used to drive the shaft section 171 independently from the yarn carrier control screw 11.

The above-described type of drive of the drive screw 110 is possible in the case of all embodiments of the invention described, just as the drive screw 110 of the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 3 can be driven by the yarn carrier control screw 11 or the drive screw of the embodiment in accordance with FIG. 1 can be driven by the ratchet drive. Instead of a drivescrew the frame 180 (FIG. 1) or the frame 181 (FIGS. 3 and 4) can, however, also be actuated by a draw roddriven by the yarn carrier control screw 11, in relation to which the position of the frame 180 or 181 can be adjusted, or which may be adjusted in relation to the yarn carrier control screw nut 18 (FIG. 1).

In the case of articles of different sizes it may be necessary to begin the pattern motive in various different courses. In order to ensure that in the case of a small size such a motive does not come to close to the neck or shoulder part, the pattern must be worked sooner than is the case with a large size and vice versa. In order to be able to coordinate the beginning of the pattern with the shape of a certain size, a counting device Z (FIG. 11) is preferably provided which is adjustable and is independent from the selvedge control device K and the pattern control device M. With this feature the program carrying element PK can also be used in conjunction with other patterns for a certain size.

By means of the main switch HS the selvedge control device K and the counting device Z are switched on at the beginning of the production of an article SW, the counting device Z having been set to the desired number of courses before the beginning of the pattern motive MM. Up to this point the selvedge control device K thus operates alone, while the pattern control device M is out of operation. On reaching the number of courses which has been pre-set in the counting device Z, the pattern control device M is switched on, follow- 1 ing which the selvedge control device K and the pattern control device M control both the needle selection in the manner described but independently of one another.

Preferably the counting device Z is in the form of a counter which can be set to various stops. In this manner it is possible to repeat the pattern motive MM in accordance with the desired size and length of the article WS. It is also possible to distribute several consecutive, different, pattern Motives MM along the length of an article WS by selecting the number of rows between consecutive motives corresponding to the particular article length by use of counting device Z.

For the sake of simplicity the invention has been described above with reference to a mechanically operating selvedge control device K and a pattern control device M which also operates mechanically. Naturally the invention can, however, be applied to electrically or electronically operating apparatus. In this case each lifting jack 83 (FIGS. 5 to 8) can be controlled for example by two electromagnets. The one electromagnet has a smaller working stroke and is controlled by the pattern control device M or the selvedge selector. For the selection of the needles N for selvedge fashioning the selvedge selector constructed as an operating cam is passed over a row of electric switches and, when the switches have been placed under voltage by the selvedge control device K, actuates the corresponding electromagnets. By the pattern control device M or the selvedge selector the lifting jacks 83 acted upon by the selected electromagnets are moved until the pattern jacks 81 lie between the operating butss 806 and 830.

The cancelling comb also constructed as a switching cam co-operates with a further row of switches which via second electromagets moves the lifting jacks 83 corresponding to the actual switches so far that the pattern jacks 81 are located on the working butt 830.

By means of the pattern control device M and the selvedge selector the selected lifting jacks 83 are thus brought by means of the first electromagnets out of the position shown in FIG. 5 into a position in accordance with FIG. 6. The cancelling device L, on the other hand, brings the lifting jacks 83 by means of the second electromagnets out of a position in accordance with FIG. 5 or FIG. 6 into a position in accordance with FIGS. 7 and 8.

The above-described apparatus illustrates only a few possible embodiments of the invention. Naturally these embodiments can be modified by the exchange of individual features or by the replacement of some means by equivalent means.

All these forms of apparatus in accordance with the invention have the common advantage that, in the case of straight-bar knitting machines with a pattern control device M for the selection as desired of individual needles N over the whole breadth of the needle bed or knitting division for participation or non-participation in fashioning and pressing operations, the patterning is separated from shaping so that the pattern program can be used for different sizes and shapes.

What we claim is:

1. A straight bar knitting machine having a plurality of knitting divisions with the individual rows of needles extending lengthwise across each knitting division of the machine, yarn carriers for delivering a yarn to such needles, yarn carrier control means to control the path of said yarn carriers, selecting means selectively cooperating with any needle in such a row for selecting which of such needles participate in lace fashioning operations, decorative pattern control means including a first program-carrying element having control members, first reading means for sensing said control members carried on said first program-carrying element, first connecting means interconnecting said first reading means with the selecting means for actuating the selecting means to selectively cooperate with such needles in response to sensing of control members by said first reading means, and selvedge control means separate from said pattern control means and including a second program-carrying element having control members, second reading means for sensing said control members carried on said second program carrying element and second connecting means for interconnecting said second reading means with said yarn carrier control means to selectively change the path of said yarn carriers in response to sensing of control members by said second reading means, the improvement comprising third connecting means for interconnecting said second reading means with said first connecting means for controlling said first connecting means and the selecting means independently of said pattern control means and in response to sensing of control members of said second program-carrying element by said second reading means, the selecting means further being operable to select which of such needles participate in pressing operations.

2. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 1, in which the first reading means reads the first program-carrying element at different moments than the second reading means the second program-carrying element, and the first conecting means and the selecting means connected thereto are thereby actuated at different times by the first program-carrying element and the second program-carrying element, respectively.

3. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 2, means for moving the first program-carrying element relative to the first reading means, and the selvedge control means includes means for preventing sensing of the control members carried on the first programcarrying element by the first reading means.

4. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 3, in which the pattern control means includes stopping means for stopping the moving means, and the sensing preventing means of the selvedge control means includes means for actuating said stopping means.

5. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 1, and canceling means interconnectable with the first connecting means for controlling the selecting means in the selvedge region of an article to be knit, the selvedge control means including means for effecting interconnection of said canceling means and the first connecting means.

6. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 5, in which the means for effecting interconnection of the canceling means and the first connecting meanseffects such interconnection when the selvedge control means is disconnected from the selecting means in the selvedge region of the article to be knit.

7. The straight bar knitting machine as defined in claim 1, a selvedge selector controllable by the second program-carrying element, and selector elements operable by said selvege selector for actuating the first connecting means.

8. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 7, the selector elements being arranged in a row, and drive screw means for moving the selvedge selector along such row of selector elements.

9. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 8, in which the yarn carrier control means includes a control screw and the drive means is driven by said yarn carrier control screw.

10. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 8, in which the yarn carrier control means includes a control screw and the drive screw means is driven by the selvedge control means independent of the yarn carrier control screw.

mg UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,842 624 d' Or-mhpr 7? H174 Invent r( E1 ni1 Fess. Kurt Beitzinger and Werner Knhlitv It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 1, line '4, cancel "abandonded" and insert abandoned--.

Column 18, line 19, cancel "butss" and insert "butts"; line 51, cancel "the"; line 52, cancel "lengthwise" and insert '--widthwise- Column 19, line 21, after "means" insert "reads".

Column 20, line'4, cancel "interconnectable" and'insert --interc0nnectible; line 16, cancel "as"; line 27, after "drive" insert --screw- Signed and sealed this 14th clay of January 1975.

(SEAL) Attest:

McCOY M. GIBSON JR. C. MARSHALL DANN Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

1. A straight bar knitting machine having a plurality of knitting divisions with the individual rows of needles extending lengthwise across each knitting division of the machine, yarn carriers for delivering a yarn to such needles, yarn carrier control means to control the path of said yarn carriers, selecting means selectively cooperating with any needle in such a row for selecting which of such needles participate in lace fashioning operations, decorative pattern control means including a first program-carrying element having control members, first reading means for sensing said control members carried on said first program-carrying element, first connecting means interconnecting said first reading means with the selecting means for actuating the selecting means to selectively cooperate with such needles in response to sensing of control members by said first reading means, and selvedge control means separate from said pattern control means and including a second programcarrying element having control members, second reading means for sensing said control members carried on said second program carrying element and second connecting means for interconnecting said second reading means with said yarn carrier control means to selectively change the path of said yarn carriers in response to sensing of control members by said second reading means, the improvement comprising third connecting means for interconnecting said second reading means with said first connecting means for controlling said first connecting means and the selecting means independently of said pattern control means and in response to sensing of control members of said second program-carrying element by said second reading means, the selecting means further being operable to select which of such needles participate in pressing operations.
 2. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 1, in which the first reading means reads the first program-carrying element at different moments than the second reading means the second program-carrying element, and the first conecting means and the selecting means connected thereto are thereby actuated at different times by the first program-carrying element and the second program-carrying element, respectively.
 3. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 2, means for moving the first program-carrying element relative to the first reading means, and the selvedge control means includes means for preventing sensing of the control members carried on the first program-carrying element by the first reading means.
 4. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 3, in which the pattern control means includes stopping means for stopping the moving means, and the sensing preventing means of the selvedge control means includes means for actuating said stopping means.
 5. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 1, and canceling means interconnectable with the first connecting means for controlling the selecting means in the selvedge region of an article to be knit, the selvedge control means including means for effecting interconnection of said canceling means and the first connecting means.
 6. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 5, in which the means for effecting interconnection of the canceling means and the first connecting means effects such interconnection when the selvedge control means is disconnected from the selecting means in the selvedge region of the article to be knit.
 7. The straight bar knitting machine as defined in claim 1, a selvedge selector controllable by the second program-carrying element, and selector elements operable by said selvege selector for actuating the first connecting means.
 8. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 7, the selector elements being arranged in a row, and drive screw means for moving the selvedge selector along such row of selector elements.
 9. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 8, in which the yarn carrier control means includes a control screw and the drive means is driven by said yarn carrier control screw.
 10. The straight bar knitting machine defined in claim 8, in which the yarn carrier control means includes a control screw and the drive screw means is driven by the selvedge control means independent of the yarn carrier control screw. 